Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows 8 operating system was a bold and risky gambit, which traded familiarity for an innovative new graphically rich (some say too graphically rich) user interface. Now the veteran operating system maker is eyeing more ambitious changes, notably a shift to an Apple, Inc. (AAPL)-like track of more frequent (perhaps annual) operating system releases.

I. Windows Blue to Land in 2013?

Originally thought to be a service pack, sources at Microsoft have been spilling word of an upcoming release called Windows "Blue" (perhaps a code-name) to ZDNet and The Vergein recent months.

According to the latest rumors, the 2013 release will be inexpensive or perhaps free, to incentivize upgrades. And it will be a full operating system upgrade. In this regard, the new development cycle Microsoft is moving towards closely resembles Apple's -- frequent, cheap operating system upgrades.

Microsoft is also planning a move that may shock and upset some developers -- it will reportedly release a new version of its SDK for Windows Blue, and at that point will stop accepting Windows Store apps built on the old Windows 8 SDK. Again, this choice is a calculated tactic on Microsoft's part to push developers and users to embrace the new platform.

The new OS will also shift Microsoft's position regarding leniency for users upgrading from pirate versions. With Blue, if you upgrade from a pirated copy of Windows 8, even if you bought a legitimate copy your Windows Store and the built-in-apps will still be bricked.

[Image Source: NeoWin]

According to ZDNet, the term "Windows 9" has begun to creep into text in Microsoft employee postings, suggesting Microsoft may official dub the upcoming OS Windows 9, when it hits release next year.

Another report from Neowin suggests that the new operating system will move Windows 8 to using smaller Live Tiles, similar to those in Windows Phone 8. This would seem to agree with The Verge's sources who suggest Windows Blue/Windows 9 will be part of an effort to complete the transition of Windows Phone and Windows (PC) into a single code-base and consistent user interface. As part of this effort, Windows Phone may receive a corresponding "Blue" update, as well.

In its release Microsoft announced that it had moved 40 million licenses in its first month of sales, despite no longer offering the free upgrades for purchasers who bought machines in the months leading up to the release (as it did with Windows 7).

Of course, critics will be quick to point that Microsoft reduced upgrade fees (albeit charging more of them), did not disclose its revenue associated with the upgrades, and did not disclose how many of its licenses sold to OEMs were resold.

In all honesty I barely notice Im using Windows 8 and not Windows 7. It really works perfectly fine with the mouse and keyboard.

What I dont like is when I close out of the images it opens and brings me to the start menu where I would prefer it just drops me out to my desktop instead. Im one of those who pins everything I need. Start is really for barely used apps.

BTW DT you might want to update your CSS encoding when you log in go to post in IE on Windows 8 the text box area is the size of a postage stamp.

Probably depends on how you used Win7. The feature I liked most about Win7 was the ability to pin programs to the Taskbar and Start Menu.

Having to open the Win8 Start Screen (fullscreen) every time I launched an app (that immediately sent me back to the desktop) never started to feel smooth. This jumping back and forth between styles just started to feel increasingly frustrating and using the argument that you barely have to use the Start Screen and still able to use to OS isn't a good defense imo.

I'd love to get many of the improvements Win8 brings but the amount of effort and frustration I would have to put up to get used to the interface simply isn't worth it (even if I have to waste the available 15€ upgrade option)

It's a website bug. Dailytech doesn't display on Firefox correctly either (on FF 10 the section holding comment links is a large black band (instead of a smaller white strip). Whoever writes the CSS is not being cross-platform friendly.